Gone to the dogs: Anderson County animal shelter opens dog park

Cody Adams of Anderson assembles a dog pen, one of many, at the Anderson County P.A.W.S. animal shelters dog park.

Anderson Independent-Mail, S.C.

ANDERSON COUNTY - A grassy lot next to the Anderson County animal shelter is for the pooches.

No cats are allowed.

The fenced-in lot is the first-ever dog park that the county's P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Worth Saving) animal shelter has had.

"It allows the animals a chance to get outside and get some fresh air," said Jessica Cwynar, the shelter director. "It gives them a bigger area to play in. Before, we had two small kennels on the side of the building. Now we can send at least five animals out at one time."

Typically, the shelter has an average of 300 dogs waiting to be adopted. While they are at the shelter, the animals remain in their cages most of the time. But when volunteers come in, they are taken out of their cages and allowed to exercise and play.

What: Pup Rally at the Dog Park, an opening of the animal shelter's new dog park and a three-day adoption event

Note: The adoption event is free and open to the public. Dogs can be adopted for $35 instead of $65 at the three-day event

For more information: Call P.A.W.S. at 864-260-4151.

Cwynar said the new park gives the dogs more room to do what dogs do: run and play.

The park covers 10,000 square feet and was donated by Waste Connections of the Carolinas, Cwynar said. Waste Connections of the Carolinas is a waste management company that operates in the Upstate, including in Belton.

The park was completed about three weeks ago. Its official opening is set to happen Thursday as the shelter's staff kicks off a three-day dog adoption event, Cwynar said. She said the Pup Rally in the Dog Park will happen Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For all three days, people can adopt a dog for $35 instead of the usual $65 fee. Cwynar said there are 230 dogs in the shelter now.

The $35 fee includes spaying or neutering for the dog; a rabies shot, if the dog is old enough; the dogs first set of vaccines; a deworming; and a microchip. The microchip helps a pet owner to locate a dog if the animal becomes lost.

Cwynar said the adoption event is free to attend and open to the public. Those who want to adopt a pet will have to be approved for adoption before they can take an animal home.

She said volunteers also are needed to help walk the dogs. People can volunteer by themselves if they are 18 or older. If they are younger than that, they need to have a parent or guardian with them while they volunteer at the shelter, Cwynar added.

People who come to adopt a dog from the shelter can also use the park as they try and select which pup they want to take home, Cwynar said.